Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A command identifying circuit separates entered image information into a bitmap command representing a line image and an image command representing a half-tone image. A data separating circuit separates layout information, bitmap data and paint-tone data from the separated bitmap command and, in accordance with the layout information, stores the bitmap data in a bitmap memory and the paint-tone data in a block-tone memory. Another data separating circuit separates layout information and image data from the separated image command, and a character/line-image extracting circuit extracts pixels, which constitute a character or line image, contained in the image data separated by the data separating circuit, and stores positional information and tone data regarding the extracted pixels in the bitmap memory and block-tone memory. However, pixels constituting a character or line image are not extracted in an image area within which a line-image area and a half-tone image area overlap each other. An extracted-pixel substitution circuit substitutes prescribed data for a portion of the image data in which a character or line image has been extracted, and a coding circuit codes the image data that has undergone substitution and stores the coded data in an image memory.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim